Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to northwestern Nevada.
Habitat: Open areas on rock, clayey soils, or sand.
Flowers: March-July
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Annual
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Somewhat succulent annual from a slender taproot, the erect, simple stems 1-6 cm. tall.
Basal leaves numerous, linear to linear-spatulate, 2-6 cm. long and 0.5-1.5 mm. wide; cauline leaves 2, linear-lanceolate to lance-ovate, 5-40 mm. long, erect, free or attached on one side for less than half their length.
Inflorescence a raceme, 5-20 mm. long, with 2-7 flowers, only the lowest bracteate; pedicels 3-10 mm. long, recurved; sepals 2, 1-2 mm. long; petals 5, white or pale pink, 2.5-4.5 mm. long; stamens 5; stigmas 3, linear.
Capsule 2-3 mm. long.
Publication: Fl. N. Amer. 1: 200. 1838.
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ssp. exigua – Claytonia, pale springbeauty Claytonia
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ssp. glauca – pallid Claytonia Southern B.C. to central California, mostly west of the Cascades, also in Columbia River Gorge.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Claytonia exigua in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Claytonia exigua checklist entry
OregonFlora: Claytonia exigua information
E-Flora BC: Claytonia exigua atlas page
CalPhotos: Claytonia exigua photos
